Metal pontoon



Feb. l2, 1946. G` G-VGREUL|QH METAL PONTOON Filed March' 1s, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 |NVENTOR. 65mm .66E/HCH, uff: 5%

TRNEY.

Feb. 12 1946.

G. G. GYREuLlcH METAL PONTOON Filed .March 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. K GEH/LD 6EEUL/6H,

Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,394,764 METAL PONJTQON Gerald G, Greullich, .Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor *to Carnegef-Illinois Steel'A Corporaton, a corporationotf` New Jersey ApplieatieiMerch, 16, 1944.,.Se1'ia1 N0.- 526,783

6 Qlairns. :(Cl.' 114-05) This invention relates. to metal. pontoons for pontoon bridges and the like which are extensively used in timefof war.

ent `after referring .to the following specication .and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional View of-.twogpontoons with saddlesupports and iiooring4 secured i12-@m505 Y Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section .on line IIT- 1I fof Figurel drawn to a smaller scale;

Figures Sto .6. show various details ofthe in.- VUQQ Y Figure 'l-is a verticalgsectionof analternateend section for thepontoon; and.

'Figure islaplan view.v ofFigure 7. Y

Referring more particularly to. .the drawings, the" .reference numeral 2 indicates .a solid diaphragm made vfrom a steel plate. Asbest Ashown in Figures Zand 3. a rim.4,is welded to the per riphery of the `diaphragm 2.. 'I'he `casing of the pontoon is' made fromA a pluralityof semi-cylindrical sections 6, .each of which has a flange' 8 along its `longitudinal(edges.l Asshownin Figure 4,"angesl8 areprovided with holes l0 therein and abutting flanges are fastened together by means offbolts I2. Cotton webbing rl4'impregnated with rubber compound isv provided between the'. 'fianges andA rubber caulkingcornpou'nd I6 is insertedat the diaphragm rings. 'rrhe'edges of the Semi-.cylindrical sections .5 .rest against Ythe rim 4a's`gbstysliownin'1iigures 2.ar`xd3.vr Cotton webbing '18, )impregnated with rubk'nr compound, is insertedbetwe'enthe 4 and the sections 6 which are fastened to the rim 4 by means of stud bolts 20. Slotted holes 22 are provided in the sections 6 to provide ease of the assembly while corresponding holes in rim 4 are threaded to receive the bolts 20. Lock washers 24 are located between the sections 6 and the head of the stud bolts 20, A plurality of these semi-cylindrical sections 6 bolted to the rims 4 are assembled as shown in Figure 2. Each compartment 26 is provided with a bung hole 28 at top and ysaddle .as best shown' in Figure 1.

bottom. The end compartments 30 of thepon.- .toon are made in the form of a hemisphere which is formed of two sections 32 fastened together as shown. in Figure 5- A `semi-circular lli-shaped member 34 is welded to each section 32 .and the 'two sections are bolted together by meanscf .cap screws 2 0 are partiallyv inserted, after which the anges 8 and 34 arelooselybolted together. After all cap screwsand bolts are in place, .they

.are gradually drawn up to the required tightness.

It will be seen that the entire pontoon is assembled with fastenings applied from the outside, which facilitate assembly. If desired, the casing,

vinstead of being made from .cylindrical halves,

may be'` made up of any number of curved. pieces having anges similar to flanges 8l and which .may be assembled to form the cylindrical casing.

Welded saddles 42 are fastened to the top of the pontoon so as to be supported by the diaphragms 2.` The load from the saddles act directly on the diaphragms 2 and distortion is prevented by the .diaphragms acting in tension. The stresses set up by outside water pressure is in large part carried` by the diaphragme which stiien' the entire structure. The bottoni vilange 44 of the saddle isfbent to vconform to .the shape of the pontoon. A bent bar'y 4B. is welded to the bottom of the flange 44"]oevveen thebolt heads to providebearing furthe saddle as shown in Figure 6. Each ofthe saddles is fastened to the flanges 8 by means ofk a clevis 43 fastened to each end of the A tie rod' 50 having a turn buckle 52 connects the clevis 48 to aclevis 54, attached to a clamp 56 whichV engages the bottom of the ilange'. Standard `ilooringrs'upports 58 and .flooring Si) are'bolted to the .saddles 42 as shown inFigures 1 and 2.

In 'placeof the hemispherical ends 3Q a conical end sectionGZ maybe used as shown in Figures 'l and 8. A spherical segment 64 is Welded to the conical section and the two halves of the conical section are fastened together as shown in Figure 5. The streamlining effect of the spherical and conical sections offers a minimum opportunity for lodgment of iloating debris, keeps down the resistance to movement through the water when towing, and reduces the pulling on the anchor lines from current against the upstream and current drag on the downstream end. If

desired, towing eyes may be attached to the bung holes 28 at the ends of the pontoon.

Alternate schemes for removing seepage water from the compartments are shown in Figure 1.

" As shown on the right hand pontoon, a check In the alternate construction shown to the left in Figure 1, an air valve 68 and bleeder pipe 'lllare attached to the bung hole 28. The bleeder pipe extends to the bottom of the pontoon and by applying pressure to the air valve, water is forced up through the bleeder pipe and out of Y the compartment.v

By making the pontoon in separable parts,"Vr`

which can be nested one within the other, great savings in shipping space is permitted. Standard transportation equipment may be used and the character of the load is not apparent to aerial1 reconnaissance. Y

In case of damage to one pontoon,- it may be releasedfrom the saddle, floated out of position and replaced by a new cylinder iioated into posi-V tion when partly filled with water and thenl brought up into position by blowing out the water. Y

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. Y V

I claim:

1. A metallic pontoon comprising a plurality of diaphragms extending transversely of and spaced apart longitudinally of the pontoon, a 'plurality of cylindrically curved members,V a longitudinally extending flange at each longitudinal edge of each member, said curved memv bers being fastened together in groups to form a cylinder with their flanges abutting, each group of members extending between a'pair of diaphragms with their ends being fastened thereto tionscoincident with certain of said diaphragms,

and means anchoring said saddles to said anges.

2. A metallic Vpontoon comprising a plurality of diaphragms extending transversely ofk andV spaced apart longitudinally of the pontoon, a plurality of semi-cylindrical members, a longi- 3. A metallic pontoon comprising a plurality of diaphragms extending transversely of and spaced apart longitudinally of the pontoon, a plurality of semi-cylindrical members, a longitudinally extending flange at each longitudinal edge of each member, said semi-cylindrical members being fastened together in pairs to form a cylinder with their flanges abutting, each pair of members extending between a pair of diaphragms with their ends being fastened thereto at the periphery thereof, a streamlined section fastened to each end of the pontoon, means for removingy liquid from the interior of the pontoon, load supporting saddles mounted on the pontoon at positions coincident with certain of said diaphragms, and means anchoring said saddles to I Asaid flanges.

4. A metallic pontoon comprising a plurality of diaphragms extending transversely of and spaced apart longitudinally of the pontoon, a peripheral ring on said diaphragm, a plurality of semi-cylindrical members, a longitudinally extending flange at each longitudinal edge of each member, said semi-cylindrical members being fastened together in pairs to form a cylinder with their flanges abutting, each. pair of members extending between a pair of diaphragms with their ends being fastened to the peripheral rings,fa streamlined section fastened to the ring at each end of the pontoon, load supporting Ysaddles mounted on the pontoon at positions coincident with certain of said diaphragms, and meansY anchoring said saddles to said flanges.

5. A metallic pontoon comprising a plurality of diaphragms extending transversely of and spaced apart longitudinally of the pontoon, a peripheral ring on each diaphragm, a plurality of semi-cylindrical members, al longitudinally extending ange at each longitudinal edge of each member, said semi-cylindrical members being fastened together in pairs to form a cylinder with their flanges abutting, each pair of members extending between a pair of diaphragms with their ends being fastened tothe peripheral rings, a streamlined section fastened tothe ring at each end of the pontoon, means for removing liquid from the interior of the pontoon, load supporting saddles mounted on the pontoon at positions coincident with certain of said diaphragms,

and means anchoring said saddles to said flanges. 6. A metallic pontoon comprising a plurality V0f diaphragms extending transversely of and tudinally extending flange at each longitudinali" edge of each member, said semi-cylindrical members being fastened together in pairs to form va cylinder'with their flanges abutting, each pairV of members extending between a pairr of diaL phragms with their ends being fastened Vthereto at the periphery thereof, load supporting saddles als VVmeans anchoring said saddles to said flanges.V

GERALD CS'.l GREULICH; 

